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4 In Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Things to do in Minnesota

Spend a fun-filled day with kids in Jordan, Minnesota (just outside the Twin Cities)

I love exploring the unique places that each state has to offer. Recently, we had an amazing time in Duluth. I’ve also written about the great things to do in Lakeville. Of course, nearly everyone knows about Mall of America. However, one place I’d never heard of until I moved to Minnesota, was the quaint town of Jordan. Jordan is only about 30 minutes west of the Twin Cities.

I’d heard there was a giant candy store in this town, but did some research to see what else there was to do. I was surprised to find some really unique things for families.

Start your day with a visit to the American Ninja Warrior Grassman Park.

Address: 1132 Stonebridge Path, Jordan, MN 55352

It’s a FREE and FANTASTIC place to go and get some FUN exercise.

There are two obstacle courses – one for younger children, and another for older children. There are timers on both courses. Your kids can push the button to start a timer, run the course, and push another button to end the timer. Children and adults of all ages can have fun (and burn lots of energy) at this park!

Next, stop by Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store!

Address: 20430 Johnson Memorial Drive, Jordan, MN 55352

Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store has so much more than candy. You will also find fresh pie, savory snacks, bottles of pop, and puzzles. It’s sensory overload, but absolutely worth a visit.

You may want to set the expectation for your kids (and maybe yourself) about what they can spend BEFORE you enter the store. The candy is on the pricey side. It’s easy to drop LOTS of money here!! I told my boys they could spend $5 each – so they had to get creative and pool their money to get the candy they wanted.

BRING CASH or a checkbook! They do not accept credit cards.

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After having fun at the candy store, burn some of that sugar high off at the nearby Lagoon Park.

Address: 300 Park Dr. Jordan, MN 55352

This park has shaded picnic tables, a playground, a splash pad and even a beach. Across the street is a beautiful waterfall. The best part – it’s all free!

We brought and ate a picnic lunch, then played at the fantastic park for the rest of the afternoon.

Lagoon Park
Jordan

If you are considering a visit to Jordan, here is what Iโ€™d recommend you bring:

  • Cash for the candy store
  • Water shoes, a towel, and a swimsuit for Lagoon Park
  • A picnic lunch
  • Sunblock or bug spray
  • Beach toys (optional)

Is there another unique town in Minnesota that we should visit? Leave me a comment!

Here’s a video of Clark (age 10) trying the American Ninja Warrior Course:

Here’s a video of my 6 year old trying the course:

Here’s a peek into another awesome thing to do in the Twin Cities – The Como Zoo!

Here’s a peek into our day at the Mill City Museum.

Here’s my Minnesota Bucket List.

Here’s a peek into the multi-million dollar Minneapolis Mansion!

Here’s a peek inside the magnificent Minnesota Arboretum!

3 In 2020/ Family/ Food/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Review/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

A Perfect Weekend in Duluth

It was Ted’s Birthday weekend and we wanted to get out of the Twin Cities and do something fun. A visit to Duluth had been on our Minnesota Bucket List for two years – so we booked a place to stay and invited some friends to join us for the weekend up north. (Bonus, our friends used to LIVE THERE – so they knew all the best spots to visit!!)

We arrived in Duluth on Friday around noon and started the weekend in Canal Park. We walked through a few of the quaint shops and got to the end to see the massive lift bridge. Every 30 minutes, the bridge lifts to let boats come into the Harbour from Lake Superior. You can click here to find the ship schedule.


We ate lunch at Grandma’s Restaurant because:

  1. People recommended it and
  2. Itโ€™s next to the lift bridge
Notes on Grandma's Restaurant: I didn't love the indoor 'vibe' of this restaurant, but getting a seat by a window or on the upstairs patio makes it nice! The food was pretty good, but not amazing. The reason to go here - LOCATION! I'd only go back if I had an outdoor table that overlooks the bridge. 
Lunch at Grandma’s Restaurant

After lunch we ordered ice cream to share from an old caboose that is now an ice cream shop.

Then we walked to the lighthouse at the end of the loooong pier. My boys were amazed that Superior is really a lake and not an ocean.

We walked back to our hotel to check in, then watched the trucks and tractors working behind the hotel – setting huge boulders in place and creating a large walkway along the lake. Each semi could only hold three boulders. After we watched them work for awhile, we drove to Park Point Beach, which is about an eight minute drive from Canal Park. The drive takes you across the lift bridge – which was fun, and the drive to the beach is nice because you get to enjoy viewing a wide range of homes along the lakefront.

When we arrived at Park Point Beach, we stood to observe the powerful lake and unique beach – full of soft sand and huge, heavy logs that had washed onto the shore. The lake is always VERY cold and since it was late in the day, we werenโ€™t planning to swim. However, the chilly air, the cold water, and lack of swimsuits, did not stop the kids. They were playing in the waves within minutes of our arrival.


After time at Park Point, we went back to the hotel to dry off and change, then walked to dinner at Canal Street Brewery. The restaurant has a great vibe, and huge windows overlooking the lake. Ted ordered a salmon salad and I had a grilled chicken sandwich with brie and asparagus. The boys ate burgers. We all enjoyed our meals and would definitely go back.

After dinner, we let the kids swim in the hotel pool, then we enjoyed sโ€™mores on the hotelโ€™s back patio.

We’d been watching the weather for several days preceding our trip, and the forecast showed rain and lightning all weekend. Clark asked if we could pray and ask God for nice weather so that we could explore outdoors. Thankfully, Friday was nice! It was warm during the day and just a little chilly at night. After getting into bed Friday night, it rained and thundered all night – but the storms were over by morning! Saturdayโ€™s weather was perfect for exploring.

We started the day with breakfast in the hotel, then drove about 45 minutes north along Lake Superior to Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Gooseberry Falls was SPECTACULAR!

It was one of the most amazing ‘playgrounds’ weโ€™ve ever explored. There are so many trails to hike, but we spent hours just playing in the water. 

Gooseberry Falls Tips:

  • Wear water shoes! (See recommendations below) The falls are wet and rocky and youโ€™ll want to get in the water and explore. Click here to see a great pair I found for my husband for only $15.
  • Wear comfy clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.
  • There are two large parking lots – if one is full, there is one just beside it. Both were nearly full when we left, but it didn’t feel overly crowded because the State Park is SO large!
  • If you are bringing children, I recommend following the trail to the LOWER FALLS. We started at the UPPER falls and found it was DANGEROUS for young, curious children. Our kids wanted to get really close to the edge of the falls, and could have easily fallen over. There is nothing to stop them. In fact, the day we were there, two children fell over the falls and had to be life flighted out. At the time of this post, all I know is that they are injured, but still alive.
  • Pack some snacks and a water bottle – All the hiking and water play will make you hungry!
  • 20-30 minutes before you leave, call to make a reservation at the world famous Betty’s Pies. We tried to eat there, but there was too long of a wait. They told us we could call in advance to save our place in line.


We happened to see a sign that said Grand Superior Grille as we were leaving the falls, and stopped here for lunch. The restaurant has sweeping views of the lake, and a well-priced menu. We practically had the place to ourselves and couldnโ€™t believe more people weren’t there. The food and environment were fantastic. George said this was his favorite restaurant we went to all weekend because of the nice environment and good food.

Behind the restaurant is a phenomenal rocky coast.

Skipping rocks


Next, we drove to Brighton Beach but only stayed for a few minutes because it was way too packed. As an alternative, we went to Lester Park. It’s not a beach, but has trails to hike, a playground, and the best part – a beautiful creek to play in. The kids absolutely loved it and could have stayed and played in the creek for HOURS!

Lester Park Tips:

  • For a calm place to play, use the creek to the left of the playground.
  • The first creek you see (close to the parking lot) is usually filled with teenagers. Walking a little farther in, is a much better place for kids to explore.

We talked them into leaving by promising ice cream. I was hoping to go to the historic Portlandโ€™s Malt Shop, but we drove by and saw a super long line, so we went back to our hotel and walked to Dairy Queen. While we ate our ice cream, we walked back to the Lift Bridge. The boys enjoyed chasing pigeons and sea gulls, and climbing on the rocks along the coast. 

For dinner we ordered pizzas and salads from Vitta Pizza.

Notes on Vitta: Their food is fantastic! I shared an amazing salad with Ted and a couple different pizzas (both SO good). The kids loved the pizza too! I sat inside the restaurant while waiting for our food, and wouldn't recommend eating inside.  It's crowded and the seats are uncomfortable. However, the food is perfect for take out.  (Rating 5/5)

While the dads took the kids swimming, my friend Mary and I got to enjoy a little quiet time to catch our breath and chat. After dinner, the mamas took the kiddos to bed, and Ted went out with Maryโ€™s husband to rent electric scooters and enjoy some guy time.

The weather was amazing ALL day and Iโ€™m so thankful! We got to pack in SO much fun!

Sunday morning we went to a quaint coffee shop called Perk Place. I had the most delicious latte called ‘Honey Bear.’ It’s made with a little cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. We drove around the Congdon area to see some of the historic, ornate mansions. We also drove through the downtown area and saw the famous Duluth Trading Company.

Did you know that Duluth once had most millionaires per capita than any other US city? People gained their wealth from the Iron Mining and logging industry.

Our next stop was the GORGEOUS Enger Park. This park has:

  • A Japanese Garden with a large bell you can ring,
  • Many paths to explore and rocks to climb
  • An incredible view of Duluth, the harbor, lift bridge and Lake Superior
  • A tower with nearly 100 steps and about 5 levels. There are 360 degree views on each level

After exploring the park, we headed home with happy hearts. It was an incredible weekend, full of fun adventures with good friends.

I’m thrilled that I finally got to see Duluth. There is so much history and beauty in that city – hills and large rocks, cool buildings and restaurants, falls and creeks, and of course, Lake Superior. 

Here are a few things we missed this trip, but hope to see and do during our next visit:

Where to go:

Where to Eat:

Did I miss something? Leave a comment and let me know your Duluth favorites!

I had a hard time finding water shoes in a store before we left, but I found these cool ones online for a great price!

Click here to read my Minnesota Bucket List!

Click here to read: 20 gifts that Minnesota Gave the World!

Click here to read 15 fun facts about Minnesota!

0 In 2020/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

A peek into our week(s) June 2020

First hair cuts since quarantine

Why do hair cuts make them grow up so fast?

Ted took George and Clark to help clean up our city.

I participated in my first ‘peace walk’ – “Moms March for Peace.”

I was invited by my friend Lourdmy – both of us are moms raising four sons. She is black, I am white. She asked if I wanted to join her for this peace march. I was happy to walk with her, to listen and to learn. It was an emotional and beautiful event.

Lots of time outside …

  • On the water and in the water
  • Fishing – I watched Luke catch a fish for the first time!
  • Hiking and Picnicking
  • Swimming, Sprinklers, and Slip in Slides

It’s been HOT in Minnesota. You’d think that since we have such COLD winters, we should be rewarded with not so hot summers. Nope. Not this June. It’s been HOT and HUMID with endless amounts of mosquitoes.

However, everything is BLOOMING and BEAUTIFUL! There is NEW life everywhere – flowers, baby ducks, toads and turtles.

Father’s day with our real life super hero!

What have YOU been up to? Leave a comment!

0 In 2020/ Family/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week

It’s my Birthday! Let’s Eat Cake…

BIRTHDAY FUN

Thank you Minnesota, for recognizing that June 10 is my birthday, and choosing to open all gyms, restaurants and pools. I’m honored!!

My day started at the gym. (Exercise prevents cake-eating guilt.) Next, I stopped by Starbucks for my favorite FREE birthday drink – Iced Cloud Caramel Macchiato.

Then I stopped by Caribou for my FREE birthday breakfast sandwich.

I came home and the boys were up and gave me hugs and wished me happy birthday.

I made them banana bread and we did a puzzle together.

Ted went to Target and I asked him what he was getting.

Ted: Well, I was buying you flowers. It was supposed to be a surprise, but since you’re asking – what kind would you like?

Me: I’d prefer a plant over a bouquet, it lasts longer.

George: Dad, just get her seeds – those last the longest!

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Ted brought home a cake, and after lunch the boys sang to me, and we had CAKE! I opened a couple of cards I’d received in the mail, plus a gift from my mom and mother-in-law. The boys gave me handmade cards. The card from Clark was the start of a scavenger hunt. He gave me one clue, that led to another clue, that led me all over the house. The last clue was to “go to the room where you sleep.” I opened my bedroom door and all the boys jumped out and yelled:

Surprise!! Happy Birthday!!

Oh … so …. sweet. The best gifts are the ones you can’t buy.

After lunch, Ted offered to let me sneak away to get a pedicure.

That evening, a super kind friend came to watch our boys so that Ted and I could go to dinner – our first time inside a restaurant in MONTHS!

We had a delicious dinner at COV – a beautiful restaurant right on Lake Minnetonka. We shared the best CRAB CAKE I’ve ever eaten… also salmon, sushi, brussel sprouts and then more CAKE! YUM!

After dinner, I took a walk with my boys and ended the night watching a few minutes of The Greatest Showman (we love this movie).

Thanks for birthday wishes. I felt LOVED and extravagantly blessed.

โ€˜In the end, itโ€™s not the years in your life that count, itโ€™s the life in your years.โ€™

Abraham Lincoln

Here are some birthday freebies I received and you can get them too:

Starbucks – free drink on your birthday

Caribou – free breakfast sandwich and/or drink the week of your birthday

Culvers – Free sundae

Redbox – Free movie

Free points toward gift cards from Swagbucks

Dunkin Donuts – Free Drink

Ace Hardware – $10 off a purchase

Target – 5% off a total purchase

Kum & Go – free food or drink

More free birthday treat ideas here!

Wondering how NOT to dread another year around the sun? Click here!

2 In 2020/ Games/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

3 Fun Backyard Games to Play with Family and Friends

Are your kids saying “I’m Bored?” 

Are you needing to ‘de-stress’ a little? 

Hereโ€™s an idea for you: Take your kids to the backyard and play a GAME together.

Playing with your kids lowers your stress level and strengthens the bond with your kids!

Here are 3 games to play:

  1. Select one person to be Mr. or Mrs. Fox. This person will stand with his or her back to the rest of the players.
  2. All other players line up on the other side of the yard/field. The players take turns asking Mr. Fox what time it is. The fox will then respond with a time, such as 3 oโ€™clock. The players must then take the same number of steps forward (in this case, 3 steps). These steps may be as large or small as the players wish, no matter how close they get to the fox.
  3. Whenever the fox decides, she or he may yell in response to the question, โ€œItโ€™s LUNCHTIME!โ€ When this happens, the fox will turn around and begin chasing the players with the intent of tagging one.
  4. The players should run back to the starting line where they are safe. Once the fox tags someone, that person becomes Mr. or Mrs. Fox.

Optional Twist: Similar to Sharks and Minnows, after each round, the person who gets tagged JOINS the first Mr. Fox. The number of foxes chasing players increases until there are no longer any players. Then itโ€™s time to start the game with a new fox!

See my kids playing in the video below!

Thanks for the game idea Homefront Magazine.

  1. Two teams line up opposite each other.
  2. The first team agrees to call one player from the opposite team, and chants, โ€œRed Rover, Red Rover, send (playerโ€™s name) on over!โ€
  3. The person called runs to the other line and attempts to break the chain (formed by the linking of hands).
  4. If the person called fails to break the chain, this player joins the team that called Red Rover. But, if the player successfully breaks the chain, he may capture either of the two players whose link was broken by the dash, and bring them back to his original team.
  5. Teams take turns calling out Red Rover and challenging a player on the opposing team.

Alternately – if they break the chain, they join hands with that line. We played this version in the video below.

  1. โ€œItโ€ holds the ball and all the other players circle around him. 
  2. โ€œItโ€ then throws the ball straight up in the air while calling out a name. 
  3. While the player is catching the ball, all other players scatter and get as far away as they can from the person catching the ball. 
  4. The player whose name was called must catch the ball and yell “SPUD!” 
  5. The players who are running away must then stop in their tracks when they hear the word SPUD.
  6. The player with the ball takes 3 steps in the direction of any person, then tries to throw the ball and hit one of the other players. 
  7. If the player hits someone, then that player he hits becomes “It,” if he misses, he is “It.”

Variations: 

  • If a player whoโ€™s name was called catches the ball without letting it bounce, they can then throw the ball in the air and call another name. Then that player must run back and try and catch the ball. 
  • If the person takes 3 steps and misses someone, they can take 4 more steps and try and hit another player.  

Here’s a video of all three games. Stay tunes for some silly scenes at the end!

Click here to see 55 activities to do with your kids in quarantine!

0 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Product Recommendations/ Raising boys

40 Fun Ways to Entertain a Toddler

While raising four busy boys, I’ve spent countless hours finding activities to get them busy. We’ve lived through lots of LONG, COLD winters with nothing to do but be inside together.

Pictures from one very long, extremely cold winter. Every day felt like Groundhog Day!

I’ve learned the hard way, that when our little ones get bored, or when left un-attended for even a few minutes, they find trouble and created messes!

I left him un-attended for a few minutes, and he created “SNOW” with packing peanuts

I’ve searched the internet, and gathered my favorite ideas for keeping your toddlers busy!

Do you need a birthday gift idea? Many of the items below would make GREAT gifts. I’ve only included things that are pre-approved by my four children.

Each link I’ve included is an affiliate link, so that means if you click on it and decide to purchase the item, I will earn a small profit. Thanks for your support!

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1. Stacking cereal

Stack fruit loops or Cherries on Spaghetti noodles stuck in play dough!

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2. Fingerprint Characters and Stamps

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3. Color Wheel

Set out one item of each color, have your child search the house for items of the same color.

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4. Plasma Car

1 year old Luke loving his Plasma Car!

My oldest son received the Plasma Car for his first birthday – and each of my boys have been riding it ever since. This “bike” is almost 12 years old, and still one of their favorite toys.

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5. Balloons

All children love a simple balloon – just bounce it back and forth!

Step it up a notch with the Balloon Rockets. Kids enjoy watching balloons soar around the room! We purchased our Balloon Rocket set about 8 years ago and my boys still have fun with this! I recently bought replacement balloons to keep them entertained during quarantine.

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6. Shape Sorting

Or a do it yourself model:

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7. Make lunchtime special

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8. Don’t Eat Pete

What you need:

Any small snacks (cereal, candy, tiny crackers, peanuts, raisins)

1 piece of paper and a writing utensil

To do:

  1. On a sheet of white paper, draw a large grid โ€“ nine squares. 
  2. Put a number on each square.
  3. Put a small snack on each square. 
  4. Have ONE person leave the room. 
  5. Have another person choose which square is โ€œPete.โ€
  6. Ask the person who left the room to come back. He or she eats one snack at a time. When they grab the snack that is โ€œPete,โ€ everyone screams: 

โ€œDONโ€™T EAT PETE!โ€

Their turn is over. 

Repeat as many times as your kids are interested!

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9. Ball Ramp

My older kids made this for our toddler using toilet paper tubes and paper towel rolls.

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10. Ball Bounce

Use any plastic cups and ping pong balls or nerf bullets.

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11. Make your own bird feeder

Take an empty grapefruit, fill with peanut butter and bird seed. We’ve had all kinds of birds visit our feeder – and they are so fun to watch.

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12. Tracing

Make a “dotted” animal or letters for your child to trace.

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13. Sidewalk Chalk

Inside – use your sidewalk chalk with construction paper.

Outside – Create a “road” for their cars. Draw out hop scotch, train tracks, or write the alphabet!

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14. Play with water

Inside – Put any toy that can get wet into the bathtub.

Outside – 1. Pour water down a sloped path or driveway to see where it goes. 2. Put their toys in soapy water and have them give them a “bath.”

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15. Shaving cream

Put shaving cream in a large baggie with some food coloring. Let your child “squish it” or practice writing letters on it with their finger.

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16. Mess Free Coloring Book

mess free drawing

My son LOVES these!

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17. Finger Paint

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18. Pots/Pans and Spoons

Let your kids bang away. (Put in earbuds to keep it from driving you crazy!)

Another parent mentioned this idea: Giving your toddler pots and pans to bang on is a classic parent move, but here is a less noisy idea. Sit your toddler down with a pumpkin, melon, or squash and let them pound the vegetable to their heartโ€™s content with a toy hammer. Most toddlers arenโ€™t strong enough to do real harm with their hammer, so you can still make soup with your butternut squash once theyโ€™ve had their fun. She also says this works if you swap the hammer for stickers.

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19. Memory Game

We created this one on Shutterfly!

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20. Hide and Seek

Little ones and big ones love this game.

You can also hide a toys, stuffed animals, or plastic eggs and let them search!

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21. Board Books

My boys enjoyed “Lift the Flap” books

They also loved Brown Bear and Goodnight Moon

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22. Dance party

Go Noodle is a good website to use for dance moves

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23. Drawing or Water Color Painting

Give your kids white paper and let them color, draw or paint.

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24. Paint Nails

paint nails

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25. Bubbles

Bubbles always make kids smile!

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26. Sock Puppets

Little ones love puppets. Make a simple one with a glove.

All four of my boys BEG me to read the “Tickle Monster” book that comes with Tickle Monster ‘puppet’ gloves.

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27. Take a Drive

Strap your kids in to the car, drive around and listen to music or an audiobook.

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28. Old School LIGHT BRIGHT

I loved this as a kid and perhaps your kids will too?

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29. Sing together

Singing to and with your child builds a unique bond with them. And just like reading to your child, singing songs with them helps to boost their vocabulary and language skills.

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30. Stickers

Kids can put stickers over large letters to “trace” their name, or put sticker dots on a line you draw for them!

Click here to follow the “Busy Toddler” on Instagram for lots of fun ideas for toddlers.

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31. Exercise together

My mom started exercising with me when I was a toddler, and now I exercise with my kids. Set the timer for 20 minutes and MOVE!

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32. Play Dress Up

We keep a container of “Dress up” clothes for our kids. My boys have dressed up and saved the world thousands of times!

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33. PlayDoh

My toddler enjoys this little playdoh set.

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34. Busy Bag

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35. Lay in the grass and watch the clouds

Ask them what they see!

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36. MegaBlocks

This bag has brought hours of entertainment for my kiddos!

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37. Have fun with ice!

Make ice in different colors with food coloring and add to their drinks.

Freeze their toys and allow them to ‘excavate’ with a toy hammer.

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38. Memorize a verse together

It’s the SWEETEST thing to hear your little ones quoting Scripture!

The first verses my mom had me learn were Psalm 91:1 and Ephesians 6:. The first verse I had my kids learn was 1 Timothy 4:12.

Scripture memory is something that will benefit your children throughout their ENTIRE lives!

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39. Clean together

  • Smaller things kids can do โ€“ wiping baseboards, lower cabinets, all door handles, pulling weeds, folding and putting away laundry, bathroom, bedroom, their closet, putting toys away and unloading dishwasher.
  • I offered my kids a quarter to whoever could wipe down the baseboards and bring me back the dirtiest wet wipe.

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40. Play bean bag games

  • Toss in buckets, pans, or boxes
  • For more bean bag toddler games, CLICK HERE.

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Do you have an activity to share? Leave a comment!

Click here for 55 activities for kids of every age!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase.  Thank you for your support in this way! 

22 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Giveaway/ Motherhood

20 More Fun Activities for your Kids

My post on 55 Summertime Activities for Kids has been a big hit with parents, so I wrote another post to give you MORE ideas for keeping your quarantined kids busy.

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1. Sports Action Figures

The Sports Action Figures inspire kids in creative, open-ended play of their favorite sport (while stuck inside). The sets can also be used for parents to teach their kids the rules of the game and introduce their kids to the sports they love. The sets can also be used as centerpieces for sports-themed birthday parties – or to decorate cakes and cupcakes! Coaches use the GUYS to go over positioning and strategy with their players!

The sets by KaskeyKids.com include: Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer and Basketball.

Click here for more info on the set.

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2. Mosaic Art

Keep your kids busy by tearing up different colors of construction paper, then gluing them onto a picture you draw or print!

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3. Handmade Greeting Cards

Everyone loves to get mail! Have your kids make a ‘Mother’s day’ or ‘Thinking of you’ Card!!!

Click here for verses you could include in the card.

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3. “Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Tube” May

toilet paper

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4. Mad libs

Your kids will practice reading, writing, and language arts with this fun activity!

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5. Learn to Draw

Whatever it is your kids would like to draw – an animal, flower, or character – there’s a youtube video to teach them how to draw.

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6. Practice your manners!

Kids don’t automatically know what it means to “Mind Your Manners.” Summer time is the perfect time to teach them! At the dinner table, talk about table etiquette. After dinner, practice how to meet new people, and how to make a great first impression. We WILL be getting back to normal soon. We WILL be shaking hands again one day.

Practice with your kids NOW so they can impress people with their top-notch manners LATER!

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7. Mystery Drawing

WooJr has TONS of fun and free printables for Kids. The “Mystery Grids” are fun for kids – they won’t know what they are coloring until it’s finished!

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8. Quick Draw with Google

Have you seen this free activity? My kids and I have had so much fun with this game! Click here to play!

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9. Battleship over zoom

Click here to print a Battleship sheet. Your kids can zoom chat with a friend or relative and play this game together.

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10. Hangman

This game has been around for over 100 years. Teach your kids how to play! Use their spelling or vocabulary words and call it “HOME SCHOOL!”

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11. Paper Airplane

There are Youtube videos to teach your kids how to make unique paper airplanes. Have your kids build one and see how far it goes!

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12. Gratitude Journal

A gratitude list or journal is EXTREMELY valuable in uncertain times. Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!

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13. Self Portrait

Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait! Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older. You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!

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14. Watercolor Painting

Have your kids PAINT their coloring books instead of coloring – or – give them a blank sheet of paper to paint!

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15. Friendship bracelets

Making friendship bracelets kept me busy for HOURS when I was young. Perhaps it will entertain your kids too! Purchase embroidery floss, then search youtube for instructions.

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16. Play in The Sprinkler

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17. Marshmallow cup toss

All you need are two cups, two kids and one marshmallow.

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18. Blow Painting

Drip some paint on paper or cardboard and have your kids use a straw to blow the paint and make a unique piece of art.

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19. Crayon Art

Use crayons and a blow dryer to create art!

Click this site for some REALLY cool crayon art ideas!

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20. Paint those nails!

I saw this on Facebook and HAD to share! What a cool idea.

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Thanks for reading and ENJOY your summer!

For 55 other activities for kids, click here!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase.  Thank you for your support in this way! 

0 In 2020/ Family/ Inspiration/ Motherhood

Start with Hope. End with Hope. Jesus is our Hope.

One of my first memories includes listening to my mom and older sister read Psalm 91 together before bed. Hearing them quote this passage of Scripture brought comfort and peace to my little heart.

My mom also sang with us, prayed with us, and helped us memorize simple verses. I believe those were the building blocks for a foundation of faith that I still stand on today. 

As mothers – our days can be crazy and exhausting. Especially right now!! However, we can choose to start and end each day with HOPE. 

Choose one of these to begin and end each day:

  • A prayer 
  • An uplifting song
  • A Bible verse
  • A Bible story
  • Something for which youโ€™re thankful

Each day:

  • Start with HOPE.
  • End with HOPE. 
  • Jesus is our HOPE! 
1 In 2020/ DIY/ Motherhood

5 Fun Easter Activities & Crafts for kids

Do you know why Easter Bunnies and Eggs are used on Easter?

Eggs are a sign of NEW LIFE! Through Jesus, we can have NEW LIFE!

Empty eggs represent the tomb that was empty on Easter Sunday.

Bunnies have lots of babies which is a sign of NEW LIFE.

Easter is a time we, as Christ-followers, celebrate that Jesus conquered death. He was risen from the dead in order to give us a NEW LIFE!

You can read what evidence we have of the resurrection here!

1. ‘He is Risen’ Easter Eggs!

  • Give your children a large sheet of paper and have them finger paint, scribble, or water color.
  • Cut their work out into the shape of an EGG!
  • Hang up!
  • If you are an overachiever ๐Ÿ™‚ – frame it with a contrasting background!

2. Aluminum Foil Easter Eggs

  • Cut an egg out of Aluminum Foil
  • Color/decorate with Sharpies (I found this pack of sharpies at the Dollar Tree)
  • When decorating the egg, set it on top of newspaper…I have sharpie marks on my farmhouse table because I skipped this step! ๐Ÿ™
  • Pictured below is the artwork done by my 12 year old. When I asked him to color this egg, he rolled his eyes – but then he spent 20 minutes working on it. It’s okay to encourage your older kids to be artistic. It’s relaxing for them, and they enjoy it more than they will admit.

3. Handprint Easter Bunnies

  • Trace your child’s hand
  • Create bunny ears and a face
  • Cut out and fold
  • Optional: Do this each year to see how their hands grow!

4. Easter Bunny Pancakes

  • Create small and large pancakes and help your kids construct a bunny!
  • I used mini chocolate chips and bananas on the feet, and whip cream for a “bunny tail.”

5. Easter sidewalk chalk

  • Tape out a design on a window, driveway or sidewalk.
  • Fill in the spaces with sidewalk chalk or washable paint.
  • Optional: Rub the sidewalk chalk with a paper towel for a smooth look and to make the chalk go further.
  • Peel off tape and ENJOY! Your neighbors will appreciate it too.
  • Money Saving Tip: I found tape and sidewalk chalk at the Dollar Tree.

Click here to read how to do a simple Easter Egg Hunt to delight a child:

4 In 2020/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week

Peek into Quarantine Week

Home School (aka Distance Learning)

This was my first week of home schooling all four boys and what I’ve learned is – it’s not easy. I’m a full-time mom with a teaching degree and IT’S NOT EASY. I’m putting that out there so that every other parent can give themselves some grace!!!

This is new to ALL of us, and it’s not streamlined or organized. I’m not sure if we are getting it all done, or done correctly?! My mantra right now:

Good enough is good enough.

Here’s a breakdown of what each of us are doing:

George:

George has been a rock star – starting his day on time, figuring out all his assignments, checking them off, one-by-one. He asks me for help in understanding a few things. My favorite subject to do with him is Minnesota Studies. We are both learning so much about our state. He’s in sixth grade and has 7 classes. Each class is giving him about 20 minutes worth of homework.

Clark

Clark isn’t a fan of home learning. He needs social interaction and competition to thrive. His favorite part of home learning are zoom chats with his entire class.

Paul

Paul’s doing good with home school. I assist him with about 50% of his work. His home school consists of reading on an app called EPIC, math on an app called IXL, and other assignments on an app called SeeSaw. His teacher sends a daily video and list of activities to my Gmail. They also do classroom zoom chats. His favorite part of the day is getting outside to hike and explore.

Luke

I’m trying to keep Luke busy with letter worksheets, art, small-motor activities, and some digital learning games while I help his brothers with school. The boys take turns reading and practicing letters with him, and his preschool teacher has posted videos on youtube for him to watch and learn.

Kathryn:

I usually make everyone a big breakfast, and then we start homeschool at 9AM. I move from kid to kid throughout the morning helping them start activities, finish work, or answer questions.

Lunch is simple – sandwiches or mac-n-cheese and fruit.

After lunch we finish our homework and then we get outside until it’s time to get dinner ready.

Most nights we eat dinner together. This has been one of my favorite parts of quarantine – lots of time around the table! After dinner the kids can have some videogame time, or we will watch a show. Some shows we like to watch together:

I usually read about 5 books a month. However, this month I only finished ONE book – Give and Take: Helping Others Drives our Success by Adam Grant.

Ted:

Ted is staying busy with work for Target – but working from home. He has conference calls and video chats throughout the day. Sometimes it’s tricky keeping four boys quiet while he’s on a call. He told me the other day, when I was in the shower, he was on a call and heard one of our sons shout, “I love bacon!” Then all four boys starting chanting “I love bacon!” Thankfully, his co-workers thought it was funny, but now I make sure he doesn’t have a conference call before I get in the shower.

Getting Outside!

Getting outside is one of our favorite parts of the day – especially now that the sun is coming out and the weather is getting warmer! Minnesota winters are LONG, which makes spring and summer so much sweeter.

One afternoon, while out on a hike, the boys caught a water bug, a slug, and a leech, then put them into the same bucket with pond water to see what would survive. They watched the giant water bug use his proboscis to kill the minnow.

3 Things we learned:

  1. The word Proboscis: the long appendage on the front of a bug or animal. It’s the part of a mosquito that sticks into a human to suck it’s blood.
  2. Water bugs have a large proboscis that they use to poke and kill their prey.
  3. We don’t have to be in school to learn about science and nature!

What I’m loving:

  • Psalm 91 – I’m starting each day by reading this passage of Scripture.
  • Covid Memes! So much laughter!
  • Slower pace and time with my family
  • FaceTime with family and friends
  • Family Dinners
  • My “One Line a Day” Book. I’m capturing some of what’s happening in this simple journal. It will be interesting to look back on in years to come. I also write funny things my kids say and do.

What are you loving right now? Leave me a comment by clicking on the comment box by the title of this post.

Thanks for reading! Can’t wait to share a post written by my husband soon. Subscribe so you don’t miss a post.